GOLDEN CASES AND ADVISORY INNOVATIONS ON FOCUS AT TKK MEETING
Participants explored new policy developments, business innovations, and advisory strategies to boost short food chains
On February 6, 2025, Taskforce Korte Keten, a partner in the COREnet project, convened its fifth meeting with short food chain advisors in the Netherlands. Held on location, the event featured a diverse program aimed at fostering collaboration and gathering valuable input from participants. Representatives from the EU4Advice project and the Association for Agricultural Business Advisors (VAB) also attended, enriching the discussions with their insights.
The meeting started with an introduction by a policy officer from the province of Gelderland, who provided an overview of the development of short food chains and outlined the provincial policies supporting this initiative. This was followed by a collaborative brainstorming session focused on the advisory guide, a key outcome from TKK within the COREnet project. Participants explored the potential accreditation of a training variant, aiming to enhance the competencies of advisors in the short food supply chain sector.
A highlight of the event was a visit to Appeltje-Eitje, a short food supply chain business located in the heart of Arnhem. Founded by agricultural entrepreneurs, a fruit grower and a poultry farmer, in collaboration with other local farm suppliers, Appeltje-Eitje operates unmanned automatic vending stores across six locations. These innovative stores offer consumers fresh products directly from the farm, exemplifying a successful short food chain model. An advisor involved with Appeltje-Eitje discussed the business’s operations, organizational structure, sales strategies, and his role in its development. This case is being considered as a potential Golden Case within the COREnet project, highlighting exemplary practices in short food supply chains.
The program concluded with each advisor pitching their most successful consulting experiences related to short food supply chains. The presentations covered a wide range of operational domains and approaches, providing inspiration and fostering in-depth discussions among participants. The exchange of diverse experiences underscored the dynamic and multifaceted nature of short food supply chain advisory services.
Photo credits: Taskforce Korte Keten
